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International Foundation Programme

Overview

"A pre-university course to prepare for your future"

The Middlesex University Dubai International Foundation Programme (IFP) is a 120-credit pre-university course providing students with the academic skills required for entry into one of our Undergraduate programmes. IFP helps students to transition from high school to university by encouraging independent learning, teaches use of academic conventions and fosters a learner-centred environment in which students become actively involved in their own education. The modules, studied over 24 weeks, prepare students to join the degree of their choice with the skills and confidence required to succeed at Middlesex University.

Special Features

Automatic progression to a Middlesex University Dubai undergraduate programme upon successful completion of IFP

Course Content

The modules are designed to provide the transferable skills of academic writing, researching and presenting and a general introduction to other requisite academic conventions needed to study an undergraduate degree. The lessons are delivered by qualified lecturers in the format of lectures and seminars. Lab sessions are sometimes used to give the opportunity for practical work. Students have 18 to 21 hours contact each week in well-appointed classrooms equipped with IT access. Part of the ethos of Middlesex University Dubai is to encourage group collaboration on projects so during the term group presentations, classroom participation and attendance are used to provide formative assessment and all modules are summatively assessed with oral and written coursework.

Academic Writing (30 Credits) - Compulsory

This module aims to develop the extensive reading and advanced writing skills necessary at undergraduate level and introduces you to different styles and types of university level writing. You will look at pieces of academic writing and analyse the structure with a view to incorporating what you have learned into your own writing. Throughout the course, there will be multiple opportunities for you to practice academic writing, upon which you will receive feedback to help you improve. You will also be introduced to academic reading and be given multiple opportunities to develop the necessary reading skills required for undergraduate study.

Researching and presenting (30 Credits) - Compulsory

This course provides skills training for, and substantial practice in, carrying out small-scale research projects connected to a chosen core theme. It gives you the opportunity to work with other students to produce a written report and to give a short oral presentation linked with the project theme. The module will provide you the core research skills you need for undergraduate study and teach you how to present research both orally and in written reports..

Developing independent learning (30 Credits) - Compulsory

This module is designed to develop key numeric and study skills necessary for successful undergraduate study. Through the use of a range of ICT applications you will have the opportunity to develop your learning and communication skills, providing you with competency and confidence across a range of IT user skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the Internet. The course also provides an introduction to Mathematics and Statistics for the analysis and presentation of data and the use of Virtual Learning Environments.

Integrated subject-based projects ( 30 Credits) - Compulsory

This module aims to consolidate the academic and study skills developed on the other three modules through project work and to develop your group working and problem solving skills by applying them to a range of case studies that relate to real life scenarios. You will work on a project based on the core theme through a series of case studies in a range of subject areas including Business, IT, Social Science, Global World and Media and Communications.

Year 1

Integrated subject based projects
( Credits)
- Compulsory

This module aims to consolidate the academic and study skills developed on the other three modules through project work and to develop your group working and problem solving skills by applying them to a range of case studies that relate to real life scenarios. You will work on a project based on the core theme through a series of case studies in a range of subject areas including Business, IT, Social Science Global World and Media and Communications. For example, one possible case study would be to find a suitable and creative solution to a global transport crisis that threatened the core theme event.

Developing independent learning
( Credits)
- Compulsory

This module provides an excellent foundation for degree level study and is designed to develop key study skills necessary for successful undergraduate study. Through the use of a range of ICT applications you will have the opportunity to develop your learning and communication skills, providing you with competency and confidence across a range of IT user skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the Internet. The course also provides an introduction to Maths and Statistics for the analysis and presentation of data and the use of Virtual Learning Environments and the Internet.

Academic Writing
( Credits)
- Compulsory

This module aims to develop the extensive reading and advanced writing skills necessary at undergraduate level and introduces you to different styles and types of university level writing. You will look at pieces of academic writing and analyse the structure with a view to incorporating what you have learnt into your own writing. Throughout the course, there will be multiple opportunities for you to practise academic writing, upon which you will receive feedback to help you improve. You will also be introduced to academic reading and be given multiple opportunities to develop the necessary reading skills required for undergraduate study.

Researching and Presenting
( Credits)
- Compulsory

This course provides skills training for and substantial practice in carrying out small-scale research projects connected to the chosen core theme. It gives you the opportunity to work with other students to produce a written report and to give a short oral presentation based on the project. Research areas will be linked to the core theme and subthemes.

Teaching

Taught sessions are held at our Dubai Knowledge Village campus (Block 16, 17, 04 and 19) during the week (Sunday to Thursday) between 8:30am and 6:30pm. Additional sessions might be scheduled over weekends or holiday periods (you will receive advance notice for these). Attending scheduled weekly classes is an important requirement for completion of this programme.

You will be actively involved in a range of learning, teaching and assessment approaches as part of your programme. Such active approaches aim to put you at the centre of your learning so you are involved and engaged in all aspects of your assessment and learning. Your programme will require your active participation in learning activities and engagement with your fellow students both individually and collaboratively, working and learning with other students as part of a small group. Learning activities may also occur both within and outside the classroom.

Your learning will also be supported by technology. Increasingly your tutors will be using existing and emerging learning technologies to engage you in e-learning activities. Your programme may be facilitated using a variety of media and online tools (My Learning on UniHub, podcasts, wikis, etc.) which could allow you flexible access to a diverse range of online resources, quizzes and learning materials as well as collaborative tools with which you can engage and learn with your peers.

Not confined by the time and space associated with traditional teaching methods you may take part in online discussions and learning activities from wherever you are studying. By engaging with e-learning you will also be developing skills which are essential for your learning and are also highly valued by employers. These include but are not limited to: working flexibly, communication, understanding of IT, teamworking and creating shared understandings based on quality resources and access to global expertise.

Entry Requirements

Middlesex University Dubai’s admissions policies are based on the principle of wider participation. Everyone should have the opportunity to pursue a University degree. Middlesex does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national or ethnic origin in admitting students to its programmes.

All students who are interested in a programme of study at Middlesex University Dubai are required to meet our academic requirements and English language requirements

Academic Requirements

We accept students with a diverse range of entry qualifications and from varying backgrounds. The following qualifications are normally considered for admission into the International Foundation Programme:

British National Curriculum (GCSE): Minimum 60 tariff points at AS Level (Minimum 2 AS Level Subs) or above along with at least 5 academic subjects at O-Levels with grade “C” or above OR

UAE National General Secondary School Certificate: minimum grade of 60% overall OR

American High School: Successful completion of the high school diploma with overall grade “C” or overall 60% or equivalent OR

Pakistani Intermediate Level National Curriculum (Part 1 & 2): completion of FSC/HSC with minimum grade of 60% or equivalent OR

Iranian Secondary School: completion of High School Diploma with minimum grade of 12 out of 20 OR

Nigerian Senior School Leaving Certificate: minimum overall grade of “C6” in 5 academic subjects. Students are required to print out the official results from the NECO website at www.neconigeria.org OR

International Baccalaureate: successful completion of an IB Certificate may be considered for entry to the International Foundation Programme.

West African GCE: completion of A-Levels with minimum average grades of “C6” in 5 academic subjects. Students need to print out the official results from the WAEC website at www.waecdirect.org OR

Completion of GED (General Educational Development) Test with aggregate score of 2250 with an overall pass*

Note:

: *A General Education Development qualification will not be accepted on its own and candidates must have completed a minimum of 11 years at higher secondary school level and left at a valid exit point (i.e. IGCSE, National curriculum of Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan)

This list shows only a selection of qualifications and if your high school system does not appear here, please contact our Admissions Office and we will be able to advise you further

All programmes at Middlesex University Dubai are taught in English and applicants with previous education outside of English-speaking countries (such as the UK, the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) must demonstrate English language proficiency as follows:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic exam ONLY)